Latest news with #DESE
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
East Elementary named one of eight Missouri Gold Star Schools
OZARK, Mo. — The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has announced eight Missouri Gold Star Schools for 2025. East Elementary in the Ozark School District has been named one of the eight Gold Star schools. The other seven schools announced were: Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience, St. Louis Public Schools Conway Elementary, Ladue School District Eugene Field Elementary, Poplar Bluff School District Green Forest Elementary, Green Forest R-II School District James Walker, Blue Springs School District Marion County Elementary, Marion County R-II Schools Steam Academy Middle School, Ferguson-Florissant School District The program, which aligns with the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, recognizes schools for outstanding academic achievement or for performing at high levels while serving a significant proportion of disadvantaged students. The U.S. Department of Education's Blue Ribbon Schools will be announced this fall. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Boston Globe
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Newly proposed high school graduation requirements will lower the quality of a Mass. diploma
Advertisement Hopefully, these proposed requirements are not indicative of where the Healey administration is headed, because they are stunningly weak. Instead of setting a high common standard that reflects what students need to know before graduating, the proposal sets such a low bar that it threatens the quality of a Massachusetts diploma. The department's proposal specifies that beginning with the class of 2026, students must 'satisfactorily complete coursework' in 9th- and 10th-grade English language arts and math (Algebra I and Geometry or Integrated Math I and II), and one year of biology, physics, chemistry, technology, or engineering. The proposed regulation adds US history as a required course beginning with the class of 2027. Students must show 'mastery' in those classes, demonstrated by an end-of-course exam, a portfolio of work deemed satisfactory by teachers, or an 'equivalent measure' set by each district. Advertisement These proposed requirements would The undergraduate There is no benefit in setting statewide standards that are far below what the state currently recommends to districts through Each district will set its own level for the quality of individual courses, the extent to which course content aligns with state standards, and the expectations each student must meet to earn a passing grade. Although DESE plans to audit districts' competency determination policies, it lacks the capacity to enforce consequences for districts that do not fulfill the regulations. This has the potential to result in districts checking boxes for students' coursework without concern for how accurate their self-reporting is, or whether a D- is a sign of 'satisfactorily completing coursework.' Advertisement Compounding this concern is that these changes come when A final board vote on the proposed interim graduation requirements is expected on May 20; these standards should not be approved. They are not strong enough, even in this intermediate period. The board needs to spend more time thoughtfully recommending course requirements that align with, or are slightly above, those that exist in more than half of the high schools across the state. Methods to enforce accurate reporting on students' courses, and Opponents of eliminating MCAS as a graduation requirement warned it would weaken the quality of education. These interim standards are an indication of just how low that bar can go.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Yahoo
Lebanon woman faces second charge of maintaining unlicensed childcare facility
LEBANON, Mo. — A woman from Lebanon is facing her second charge of maintaining a childcare facility without a license. According to online court dockets filed on Friday, May 9, Jennifer L. Jones, born 1977, is accused of operating a childcare facility for children without having a written license granted by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). The charge is a Class A misdemeanor. Jones is a prior offender, as she was convicted of operating a childcare facility for children without a license on May 2, 2024, in Laclede County Circuit Court. The probable cause statement says on Jan. 15, 2025, DESE received a complaint that Jones was caring for more than six children, which exceeds the law's exception. A DESE investigator visited her home on Jan. 21, 2025, and advised Jones of the statutory requirement to be licensed. Around that time, Jones was providing care for at least nine children. A follow-up investigation at her home on Feb. 28, 2025, revealed Jones was providing care for at least six children. The probable cause statement from her prior conviction says in June of 2023, Jones provided care for at least 16 children at one time. Jones is due in court on Monday, June 23, for a hearing. The range of punishment for this offense is a fine not to exceed $2,000 per day up to a maximum of $10,000 for subsequent offenses. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mass. public schools to introduce AI for supportive learning
EVERETT, Mass. (WWLP) – Massachusetts public schools will soon introduce a new teaching and learning tool. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has begun a multi-year strategy to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into K-12 schools. The program was created with input from educators, school leaders and technology specialists in collaboration with DESE's AI Task Force. It will include information on how schools can address the opportunities and challenges of AI in the classroom. Warren applauds reported state probes of student loan servicer The use of AI in teaching is part of Governor Healey's plan to make Massachusetts a national leader in artificial intelligence innovation with partnerships between government, industry, startups and academia. 'Massachusetts has long been a global leader in both technological innovation and education,' Healey said. 'This strategy will help equip students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in tomorrow's economy and to engage thoughtfully with these powerful tools.''Artificial intelligence presents both significant opportunities and complex challenges for schools,' said Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll. 'The strategies announced today will help provide Massachusetts educators with the tools and guidance they need to leverage AI responsibly and effectively.'The strategy focuses on three key areas, and DESE will create resources over the next several months to help schools with the following areas: Building a shared understanding of AI: Provide resources to help students, educators, and families develop a foundational understanding of AI, how it works and its potential uses and limitations. Training: Offer professional learning opportunities and implementation support to school staff about data privacy and how to effectively integrate AI into schools. Policy alignment: Review and revise policies to address AI-related issues, such as AI literacy, data privacy and responsible use. 'As AI rapidly transforms industries and everyday life, it is essential that Massachusetts schools are equipped to prepare students for the future,' said Education Secretary Patrick A. Tutwiler. 'These recommendations provide a thoughtful and structured approach to help schools harness the benefits of AI while safeguarding educational equity and student privacy.' The task force is now shifting its focus to inform DESE's implementation strategy. Details about the AI in K-12 Schools strategy, including the task force's full report, professional learning opportunities, and other resources, can be found on DESE's website. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Boston Globe
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Three finalists named to lead Massachusetts education department
'We're excited to have three highly qualified and passionate leaders as finalists for the next DESE commissioner,' said Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler in a statement. 'This public interview process will allow the Board and Massachusetts families and educators to hear from each candidate about their vision for equity, excellence, and innovation in our public schools. We look forward to an engaging and transparent discussion.' Tutwiler sits on the state board and in recent weeks has served Related : Advertisement The education commissioner oversees day-to-day operations of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, which regulates public and charter K-12 schools. The commissioner's duties include creating long-term plans for the department, providing technical assistance, guidance, and training to school districts, collecting and publishing data, and implementing the school accountability system. Here's more about the finalists: Jack Elsey Elsey, an administrator for education non-profits, is the founder and chief executive of state shortages. Advertisement Early in his career, he worked as a middle school social studies teacher with Teach for America in New York City and in media and school relations for Teach for America. He later worked as an administrator in Detroit Public Schools and Chicago Public Schools, then served as chief schools officer for Michigan's Education Achievement Authority, a state-run program to turn around Detroit's lowest-performing schools. The agency appears to have shut down at the end of Elsey's tenure. Elsey spent the next five years running the Detroit Children's Fund before founding the Michigan Educator Workforce Initiative in 2022. Elsey has a master's degree of education in educational leadership from the Broad Center at the Yale School of Management. Lily Laux Laux spent nearly seven years at the Early in her career, Laux was a middle school teacher in Memphis City Schools at a Title I middle school for nearly two years from 2006-08. Starting in 2008, she worked for about nine years for Teach for America as an advisor and manager of a training institute, Laux is currently the Laux has a PhD in American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin, specializing in history, political theory, sociology, and education. Related : Advertisement Pedro Martinez Martinez is the recently fired CEO of Chicago Public Schools, a district of more than 325,000 students with a budget of more than $9 billion. In 2015, he was a finalist for Martinez has led multiple school districts, previously serving as superintendent of Reno, Nevada's Washoe County School District and as superintendent of the San Diego Independent School District. He also served as 'superintendent in residence' for the Nevada Department of Education. Twice in his career, Martinez has ended up in a public dispute with his employers, including Chicago Public Schools. While working as superintendent in Washoe County, Nev., he was fired in 2014 by that school district after about two years on the job, after building tensions with the teachers union. He took legal action against the board and will stay until June, under the terms of his contract. Like Elsey, Martinez is an alum of the Yale's Broad Center. An immigrant from Mexico who arrived in Chicago with his family when he was 5, he was the first in his family to graduate high school and attend college. Globe staff writer James Vaznis contributed to this story. This is a developing story and will be updated. John Hilliard can be reached at
